Ante Jazic, of Bedford, is not only the best player ever to be developed in Nova Scotia but, with a resume that includes 16 years as a professional and no fewer than 36 national team appearances, he is one of the best ever to play the game in Canada.

The potential was always there, of course, starting in the under-eight ranks in his hometown of Bedford where one summer evening he netted six goals in a cross-field game. The left-footed midfielder soon helped Suburban United teams win three top-tier provincial titles and compete in tournaments across the country, including one in Granby, Quebec, where he was named Most Promising Player.

Jazic also helped Charles P. Allen capture two provincial high school titles, cracked the Nova Scotia Canada Games team (under-20) as a 17-year-old in 1993, earned a bronze medal at the senior men’s nationals with Halifax King of Donair in 1994, and won a national championship with the Dalhousie Tigers in 1995, where he was named conference Rookie of the Year and an All-Canadian.

It was perhaps the apex of what would most assuredly have been a superb amateur career, but Jazic, whose passion to practice and play were always evident, was determined to go further. Several steps further in fact. But he would need a break and it came during a 1996 visit to Croatia, the homeland of his parents, Mario and Sanja. There an uncle arranged a tryout with a local team called NK Hrvatski Dragovoljiac and Jazic made the most of it, earning a spot on the reserve team and soon landing a pro contract.

Jazic became a starter in his second season with NK Hrvatski. In 1999, he began a three-year stay with one of the top Croatian clubs, Hajduk Split. This was followed by four years with Rapid Vienna in Austria, who were coached by former German star Lothar Matthaus, and a couple of injury-filled seasons with FC Kuban Krasnodar in the Russian Premier League.

In 2006, Jazic’s incredible fitness and discipline earned him a four-year stint with the Los Angeles Galaxy of Major League Soccer where he was joined by soccer icon David Beckham. Jazic finished out his career in 2012 with Los Angeles-based Chivas USA, another Major League Soccer franchise.

Ask him to reflect on a few career highlights, however, and, aside from winning a title with Hajduk Split in 2000, he is quick to recall certain moments when he represented Canada in international competition. These moments include his first cap with the national team, against Macedonia in 1998, and those two games when he was named captain, one a friendly against Jamaica with the Canadian team coached by Stephen Hart—who years earlier used to pick Jazic up in Bedford and personally train him. There was also a World Cup qualifying match against host Cuba in 2012. Jazic’s father, Mario, and brother, Alan, flew in for the contest and he delivered with two assists in a 3-0 win.

Today, Jazic lives with his wife, Annemarie, in her native Little Rock, Arkansas and in his spare time coaches Canada’s under-15 national team while helping out with some of the older national youth teams.

*This biography is excerpted from the induction program article by Carl Fleming*

Facts:

• Pro career of 16 yrs, 4 countries, 5 teams• Croatian 1st League Champions, 2000-2001• Croatian Cup Champions, 1999-2000• Signed by LA Galaxy in 2006• Played alongside David Beckham• Team Can captain twice in World Cup qualifications• 2007 Gold Cup player with the Can National Team• Bronze national medal with King of Donair, 1994• Silver national medal with King of Donair in 1995• Won CIS Championship with Dalhousie, 1995• CIS All-Canadian and Rookie of the Year, 1995-96